Easier access to short-time work benefits planned until June 30th

Created: 2022-02-09 13:51

According to plans by Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD), companies should be able to apply for short-time work benefits under easier conditions until the end of June.

© Jens Büttner/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

The instrument of short-time work kept many companies afloat during the pandemic.

Now the special rules that make it easier to get short-time work should apply longer than previously planned.

Berlin – Companies in Germany should be able to apply for short-time work under easier conditions until the end of June.

The federal cabinet decided this Wednesday.

Accordingly, the pandemic-related special rules for receiving short-time work benefits are to be extended by three months until June 30th.

Otherwise the special conditions would have expired on March 31st.

With the so-called formulation aid for the government factions, which the cabinet has initiated, the maximum period of receipt of short-time work benefits is to be extended from 24 to up to 28 months.

"Without the possibility of continuing to receive short-time work benefits, from March 2022 more layoffs would have to be expected in companies that have been working short-time for a long time," says the draft from the Federal Ministry of Labor.

special conditions

Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) emphasized the importance of short-time work in times of the ongoing pandemic situation.

“With short-time work, we have saved millions of jobs through the pandemic so far.

Unfortunately, Corona is still having a negative effect, ”explained the minister.

The extension of the special rules will ensure that “employees keep their jobs and that companies do not lose their skilled workers so that they can start again after the pandemic,” said Heil.

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The special conditions include, for example, the increased benefit rates for longer short-time work and also the rule according to which earnings from mini-jobs are not counted towards the short-time work allowance.

Easier access to short-time work benefits relates in particular to the condition that at least ten percent of the employees must be affected by the loss of work in order to receive short-time work benefits - and not at least a third as before the pandemic.

According to the information provided, employers will also be reimbursed half of their social security contributions beyond March 31 if qualification measures are offered in addition to short-time work.

In order to come into force, the changes still have to pass the Bundestag.

The IG Metall trade union welcomed the planned extension of the special rules, but warned that they should also be applied to temporary work.

"This gap should still be filled," said the first chairman of IG Metall, Jörg Hofmann.

dpa